Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Stewart-Cousins in 2020
Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
DeputyMichael Gianaris
GovernorAndrew Cuomo
Kathy Hochul
Preceded byJohn J. Flanagan
Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office
April 12, 2022 – May 25, 2022
GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded byBrian Benjamin
Succeeded byAntonio Delgado
In office
August 24, 2021 – September 9, 2021
GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded byKathy Hochul
Succeeded byBrian Benjamin
Minority Leader of the New York State Senate
In office
December 17, 2012 – January 9, 2019
DeputyMichael Gianaris
Jeffrey D. Klein
Preceded byJohn L. Sampson
Succeeded byJohn J. Flanagan
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 35th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2007
Preceded byNicholas Spano
Member of the
Westchester County Board of Legislators
from the 16th district
In office
1996–2007
Preceded byHerman Keith
Succeeded byKen Jenkins
Personal details
Born
Andrea Alice Stewart

(1950-09-02) September 2, 1950
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Thomas Cousins
​
​
(m. 1979; died 2007)​
Children3
EducationPace University (BA, MPA)
Lehman College (GrCert)
WebsiteOfficial website

Andrea Alice Stewart-Cousins[1] (née Stewart; born September 2, 1950) is an American politician and educator from Yonkers, New York. A member of the Democratic Party, Stewart-Cousins has represented District 35 in the New York State Senate since 2007 and has served as Majority Leader and Temporary President of that body since 2019. She has previously served twice as acting lieutenant governor of New York under Governor Kathy Hochul, for 16 days in 2021 and between April and May 2022. Stewart-Cousins is the first Black woman to serve as the New York lieutenant governor, although in an acting capacity. She is the first woman in the history of New York State to lead a conference in the New York State Legislature and is also the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history.

Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2006. She previously served as a Westchester County Legislator from 1996 to 2006. In 2012, she was chosen by her colleagues to lead the Senate Democratic Conference. After the Democratic Party won an outright Senate majority in the 2018 elections, Stewart-Cousins became Majority Leader in January 2019. She became acting lieutenant governor on August 24, 2021, when Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul ascended to the governorship. Hochul announced she would be appointing a lieutenant governor, following the precedent set in 2009 by Governor David Paterson's appointment of Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch. Hochul selected Brian Benjamin, who took office on September 9, 2021. However, Benjamin resigned less than a year later on April 12, 2022, after being arrested in a corruption scandal. This caused Stewart-Cousins to once again assume the role of acting Lieutenant Governor.[2]

Early life and education

Andrea Alice Stewart was born on September 2, 1950, in New York City. She is the daughter of Bob Stewart, a decorated World War II veteran and repairman, and Beryl Stewart, a stenographer and community activist.[3] The Stewart family resided in public housing in Manhattan and the Bronx, and Andrea suffered from chronic asthma.

Stewart-Cousins spent twenty years in the private sector, including thirteen years in sales and marketing with New York Telephone (later known as AT&T).[4] After New York Telephone was acquired through a merger with Bell Atlantic, she received a buyout and pursued a college degree while working for Gannett.[3] She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University and her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College.[5] She received her Masters of Public Administration from Pace University in May 2008 and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the public administration honor society. She also pursued careers in journalism and teaching before entering public service.[6]

Career

Yonkers Director of Community Affairs

Stewart-Cousins's public service career began in 1992 when she was appointed Director of Community Affairs in the City of Yonkers.[7] In that role, she created an internship program for the hearing-impaired and for children in working families. She also advocated for and contributed to the revitalization of the City of Yonkers and was a founder of the original "Art on Main Street". Stewart-Cousins was a co-creator of "River Fest", a widely attended multi-cultural citywide celebration on the Hudson River in Yonkers.[8]

Westchester County Legislator

Prior to her election to the New York State Senate in 2006, Stewart-Cousins served as a Westchester County Legislator representing Yonkers. First elected in 1995,[9] she served from 1996 to 2006.[10] During her tenure, she was elected Majority Whip and vice-chair. Stewart-Cousins authored living wage laws, smoke-free workplace laws, tougher gun laws, laws that prosecute predatory lenders, tax cuts for seniors and veterans, and Westchester County's first human rights laws.[11]

New York State Senate

Stewart-Cousins first ran for New York State Senate in 2004, but incumbent Republican Sen. Nicholas Spano defeated her by a margin of 18 votes.[12] In 2006, she challenged Spano again and defeated him.[13][14] As of 2019, Senate District 35 includes all of the Towns of Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant, and portions of Yonkers.[15]

Stewart-Cousins voted in favor of same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, but the bill was defeated.[16] A same-sex marriage law was eventually passed in 2011. Stewart-Cousins is a vocal supporter of abortion rights, and has pushed for legislation to expand abortion access in the State of New York.[17]

On April 17, 2010, it was reported that Stewart-Cousins was under consideration by then-gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo to be his running mate. Cuomo ultimately chose Rochester mayor Bob Duffy instead.[18]

Senate Democratic Leader

On December 17, 2012, Stewart-Cousins was elected Senate Democratic Leader.[19][20] Stewart-Cousins is the first woman in history to lead a conference in the New York State Legislature.[21]

Senate Majority Leader

The Democratic Party won a Senate majority in the 2018 elections. On January 9, 2019, Stewart-Cousins was elected Senate Majority Leader. She serves as the body's Majority Leader and Temporary President, and is the first female Senate Majority Leader in New York history.[22] In 2019, Stewart-Cousins sponsored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which overhauled the rules affecting rent-controlled apartments in New York City.[23][24] During Stewart-Cousins's first year as Senate Majority Leader, New York passed a variety of progressive laws on issues like climate change, voting rights, abortion rights, criminal justice reform, gender equality, gun control, marijuana decriminalization, LGBT rights, and immigration.[25] According to City & State New York, Stewart-Cousins employs a "consensus-driven approach" to leading the Senate Democratic Conference that sets her "apart from her predecessors".[26]

Following the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul succeeded him as governor.[27] Per state law, as state Senate Majority Leader, Stewart-Cousins became the state's Acting Lieutenant Governor until Hochul appointed a full-time replacement.[28] She was the first Black woman to serve in this role.[28][29] This was also the first time New York was governed by both a female governor and lieutenant governor.[29]

Honors

In 2019, Stewart-Cousins was named to Crain's New York Business biennial list of the "Most Powerful Women in New York".[30]

In February 2021, she was presented with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Award for 2020.[31]

On September 14, 2021, Stewart-Cousins received the Samuel Untermyer award for distinguished civic leadership.[32] She was honored at Untermyer Gardens in her hometown of Yonkers, New York.

Personal life

In 1979, Stewart married Thomas Cousins, and the couple moved to Yonkers. Stewart-Cousins has three children and four grandchildren.[33] Thomas Cousins died on November 26, 2007.[34]

Electoral history

Westchester County Legislature

Westchester County Legislature 16th District 1995 Democratic Primary[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins - -%
Democratic Herman Keith (incumbent) - -%
Total votes - 100%
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 1995 General Election[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 3,214 65.50%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 293 5.97%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins 3,507 71.47%
Liberal Herman Keith 874 17.81%
Tax Cut Now Herman Keith 526 10.72%
Total Herman Keith (incumbent) 1,400 28.53%
Total votes 4,907 100%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 1997 General Election[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 4,442 81.37%
Republican Loretta Martial 1,017 18.63%
Total votes 5,459 100%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 1999 General Election[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 2,899 71.30%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 155 3.81%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 3,054 75.11%
Republican Dhyalma Vazquez 671 16.50%
Independence Dhyalma Vazquez 219 5.39%
Conservative Dhyalma Vazquez 122 3.00%
Total Dhyalma Vazquez 1,012 24.89%
Total votes 4,066 100%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 2001 General Election[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 4,527 96.30%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 155 3.30%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 4,700 99.98%
Write-in 1 0.02%
Total votes 4,701 100%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 2003 General Election[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 4,870 56.96%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 414 4.84%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 397 4.64%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 5,681 66.44%
Republican Jeanne Vergari Martinelli 2,459 28.76%
Conservative Jeanne Vergari Martinelli 410 4.80%
Total Jeanne Vergari Martinelli 2,869 33.56%
Total votes 8,550 100%
Democratic hold
Westchester County Legislature 16th District 2005 General Election[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 5,303 69.01%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 328 4.27%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 5,631 73.28%
Republican Cicely P. Greaves-Vega 1,525 19.85%
Conservative Cicely P. Greaves-Vega 264 3.44%
Independence Cicely P. Greaves-Vega 252 3.28%
Total Cicely P. Greaves-Vega 2,041 26.56%
Write-in 12 0.16%
Total votes 7,684 100%
Democratic hold

New York State Senate

New York's 35th Senatorial District 2004 General Election[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Nicholas A. Spano - -%
Conservative Nicholas A. Spano - -%
Independence Nicholas A. Spano - -%
Working Families Nicholas A. Spano - -%
Total Nicholas A. Spano (incumbent) 57,073 50.01%
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 57,055 49.99%
Total votes 114,128 100%
Republican hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2006 General Election[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 43,241 51.13%
Republican Nicholas A. Spano 34,261 40.51%
Independence Nicholas A. Spano 3,711 4.39%
Conservative Nicholas A. Spano 3,190 3.77%
Total Nicholas A. Spano (incumbent) 41,162 48.68%
Right to Life Francis Bowen (write-in) 140 0.17%
Constitution Delfim Heusler (write-in) 21 0.02%
Total votes 84,564 100%
Democratic gain from Republican
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2008 General Election[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 67,648 58.95%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 3,163 2.76%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 70,811 61.70%
Republican John M. Murtagh 36,739 32.01%
Independence John M. Murtagh 3,623 3.16%
Conservative John M. Murtagh 3,578 3.12%
Total John M. Murtagh 43,940 38.29%
Write-in 9 0.01%
Total votes 114,760 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2010 General Election[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 39,226 50.77%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 2,220 2.87%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 1,536 1.99%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 42,982 55.63%
Republican Liam McLaughlin 29,393 38.04%
Conservative Liam McLaughlin 4,867 6.30%
Total Liam McLaughlin 34,260 44.34%
Write-in 22 0.03%
Total votes 77,264 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2012 General Election[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 77,012 91.07%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 4,044 4.78%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 3,124 3.69%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 84,180 99.54%
Write-in 386 0.46%
Total votes 84,566 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2014 General Election[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 38,073 63.76%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 3,058 5.12%
Women's Equality Andrea Stewart-Cousins 1,489 2.49%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 1,242 2.08%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 43,862 73.46%
Republican Robert Lopez Foti 15,811 26.48%
Conservative Robert Lopez Foti 0 0.00%
Total Robert Lopez Foti 15,811 26.48%
Write-in 37 0.06%
Total votes 59,710 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2016 General Election[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 87,271 91.57%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 4,216 4.42%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 2,178 2.29%
Women's Equality Andrea Stewart-Cousins 1,199 1.26%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 94,864 99.54%
Write-in 440 0.46%
Total votes 95,304 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2018 Democratic Primary[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 25,129 80.92%
Democratic Virginia M. Perez 5,925 19.08%
Total votes 31,054 100%
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2018 General Election[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 74,393 92.05%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 2,630 3.25%
Independence Andrea Stewart-Cousins 1,594 1.97%
Women's Equality Andrea Stewart-Cousins 885 1.10%
Reform Andrea Stewart-Cousins 572 0.71%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 80,074 99.08%
Write-in 475 0.59%
Total votes 80,819 100%
Democratic hold
New York's 35th Senatorial District 2020 General Election[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrea Stewart-Cousins 93,807 89.51%
Working Families Andrea Stewart-Cousins 10,004 9.55%
Total Andrea Stewart-Cousins (incumbent) 103,811 99.63%
Write-in 386 0.37%
Total votes 104,197 100%
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970 - Ancestry.com contains the baptismal record for Andrea Alice Stewart born on 02 Sep 1950, and baptized on 10 Dec 1950 at St. Cyprians Episcopal Church in Manhattan, now part of Calvary and St. Cyprians in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
  2. ↑ "NY lieutenant governor resigns after arrest in federal probe". AP NEWS. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Cioppa, Deanna (August 19, 2014). "Andrea Stewart-Cousins' Quiet Storm". Westchester Magazine. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. ↑ Eidler, Scott (November 12, 2018). "Andrea Stewart-Cousins: I'll protect suburban interests in Albany". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ ""Daily Voice" featured Pace University's double alumna Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester in "Stewart-Cousins' Elevation As NY's First Female Majority Leader Lauded By Cuomo, Pace President" | PACE UNIVERSITY". www.pace.edu. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ Coltin, Jeff (September 17, 2018). "She waited. Will good things come to Andrea Stewart-Cousins?". City & State New York.
  7. ↑ "Andrea Stewart-Cousins". Westchester Magazine. November 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Samin, Suzanne (September 8, 2013). "Riverfest Celebrates 21st Birthday in Yonkers". Yonkers Daily Voice. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  9. ↑ Santos, Fernanda (November 17, 2006). "Perseverance Pays Off for a State Senate Challenger". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  10. ↑ Lipsitz, Raina (February 12, 2019). "Andrea Stewart-Cousins Is Albany's Best Hope". The Nation.
  11. ↑ Lungariello, Mark (November 7, 2018). "Andrea Stewart-Cousins re-elected, likely to be leader of New York State Senate". LoHud.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  12. ↑ Foderaro, Lisa W. (February 9, 2005). "In State Senate Marathon, Incumbent Wins". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ Wilson, David McKay (April 4, 2018). "Five things to know about state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins". LoHud.com. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 35 Race - Nov 07, 2006". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ "About Andrea Stewart-Cousins". NY State Senate.
  16. ↑ "How the Votes Were Cast". The New York Times. December 2, 2009.
  17. ↑ Vielkind, Jimmy (May 5, 2015). "On abortion, Stewart-Cousins accuses Senate of 'slumbering'". Politico PRO.
  18. ↑ Spector, Joe (April 17, 2010). "N.Y. eager for Cuomo to announce bid". LoHud.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  19. ↑ Paybarah, Azi (December 17, 2012). "Moving on from Sampson, State Senate Democrats elect Andrea Stewart-Cousins". Politico PRO.
  20. ↑ Campbell, Colin (December 17, 2012). "Democratic Senators Embrace Andrea Stewart-Cousins as Their New Leader". Observer.com.
  21. ↑ Spector, Joseph (November 26, 2018). "Andrea Stewart-Cousins makes history as first woman Senate leader". LoHud.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  22. ↑ Precious, Tom (January 9, 2018). "After 242 years, a woman is in charge of the State Senate". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  23. ↑ Bredderman, Will (December 13, 2019). "Newsmaker 2019: Stewart-Cousins makes history and upsets Albany's status quo". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Senate Bill S6458". New York State Senate. June 11, 2019. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019.
  25. ↑ Campbell, Jon; Spector, Joseph (June 21, 2019). "20 major laws passed at the New York State Capitol this year". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  26. ↑ Williams, Zach (August 11, 2019). "New room, new rules". City & State New York. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  27. ↑ Marina Villeneuve (August 10, 2021). "Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns over sexual harassment allegations". Associated Press. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  28. 1 2 Booker, Brakkton (August 13, 2021). "Turning the page on Cuomo's scandalous chapter". Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  29. 1 2 "Andrea Stewart-Cousins Set To Become New York's First Black Woman Lt. Governor When Cuomo Resigns". NewsOne. August 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  30. ↑ Crain's New York 2019
  31. ↑ New York Water Environment Association, Inc. 2021-02-21
  32. ↑ "Soiree 2021".
  33. ↑ Craig, Jon (November 13, 2018). "Stewart-Cousins Poised To Make History As Democrats Take Over State Senate". Yonkers Daily Voice. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Sen. Stewart-Cousins' Husband, Thomas Cousins, Passes Away". Yonkers Tribune. November 27, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  35. ↑ Greene, Donna (September 17, 1995). "For Herman Keith, Relief Follows a Bitter Defeat (Published 1995)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Westchester County Legislature 16 Race - Nov 07, 1995". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Westchester County Legislature 16 Race - Nov 04, 1997". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  38. ↑ "1999 General Canvass Election Results" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007.
  39. ↑ "2001 General Canvass Election Results" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2008.
  40. ↑ "2003 General Canvass Election Results" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2008.
  41. ↑ "2005 General Canvass Election Results" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2008.
  42. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections - Senate Vote - Nov. 2, 2004" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  43. ↑ "Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 35 Race - Nov 07, 2006". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  44. ↑ "New York State Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 4, 2008" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  45. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns November 2, 2010" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  46. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns November 6, 2012" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  47. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 4, 2014" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  48. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 8, 2016" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  49. ↑ "2018 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Certified Results from the November 6, 2018 General Election for NYS Senate" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  51. ↑ "2020 Election Results | New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
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